TRUST ME
By Aeris -> lucky.violet@mailcity.com
Hiya, people!
Well, I've got some news, so you better read my notes, which are
at the bottom of this page.
Thank you.
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FIVE
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Serena and Darien met once again. Or is it ten times, they have
been having coincidental confrontations a lot of times lately, and
most of them where Serena would think Darien would actually go. There
was a meeting, at the office building, at a shooting... almost
everywhere. And the most recent one was the craziest idea of all.
Serena hated heavy make-up. She wanted a simple, light, natural
look, but the spotlights forbade it. But since the shooting for
another episode of the show, "Trust Me", was finally finished she was
going to wash all the cosmetics off.
She headed for the women's restroom. It was only a short walk from
the set. When she opened the door, she gasped. She silently cursed.
"Darien! What the heck are YOU doing here?"
"Waiting for you. What else?" Darien replied. He was positioned on
top of the cubicles, such that he was the first thing to be seen when
the door is opened.
"And why are you up there?"
"For me to be the first thing you'll see, of course. Now, isn't
that obvious?" Darien jumped down. "It's a pretty long wait, though,
and I have to be rewarded for my efforts, eh, Serena?"
"What efforts?"
Darien knelt down. "Serena, I have thought about everything. You,
Reenie, my family..."
A pain shot through Serena's heart. He can't be saying this!
"... And most of all, you. You are my heart and my soul, Serena.
You give meaning to my dull and lifeless life."
Serena covered her mouth. For an observer, it would look like a
gesture of absolute shock. But, in truth, behind her hand is a smile.
"Please come back to me," Darien reached out for Serena's hands. He
held them gently, but firmly.
Silence draped the room for a moment. Then, Serena pulled her hands
for his and turned away. "Go away, Darien. I can't come BACK to you.
It's YOU who left ME. I'm not that stupid to believe all this acts.
I'm not your bubble-headed child anymore, Darien. Leave this room AND
my LIFE. Go, and STAY AWAY!"
Minutes later, Teresa went in the girl's comfort room only to see
her cousin laughing her head off.
Serena was having a pretty busy month, and though totally
exhausted, she can't take the idea of her birthday coming up out of
her mind. She was almost like a child, totally excited by the prospect
of celebrating her birthday in the showbiz world.
Though nobody has told her anything about the five days coming up,
she's got that feeling in her bones, that it will be a grand
celebration.
And usually, her intuitions were right.
And Serena was proven right.
Three days after the previous scene, Teresa was acting weirdly. She was
beginning to laugh at Serena's face for no reason at all, and she always had
those funny looks when she faces her cousin. You know, the stupid look
adults
always give babies that they think makes the child funny when it actually
doesn't? That's the one.
By five o'clock in the afternoon, Serena has had enough. She cornered
Teresa in the dressing room of Studio 3. "Now, don't start again with me,
Tori. I know those looks you give me mean something. So tell me now!"
Teresa Tsukino-Watson stared at her... then laughed out loud.
"Tori..." Serena was becoming impatient.
Teresa just laughed harder. She was laughing her head out, and tears were
already forming in her eyes. "Y-You... HahahaHAhahaha!"
Serena was getting redder and redder by the second. And she couldn't take
it anymore.
She walked---no, stomped---out of the room, leaving a
choking-to-death-in-
laughter Teresa.
In the evening, Serena was given a message telling her that she had a
birthday concert on the 30th of June.
And the day has come. Serena's excitement (and fear, too, of course) has
grown to a level where Teresa didn't know whether she should laugh, or be
irritated.
They were in the backstage. The show was going to start in a few minutes.
And during that period, Serena had paced a million times around the room and
has asked about a zillion questions: (Isn't it a wonder how it all fit in
ten minutes?)
"Hair up, or hair down?"
"Which dress? WHICH DRESS?!?"
"Light or heavy make-up?"
"Don't you think I'm too pale?"
"Is my dress creased? Darn, I should have worn my silk dress."
"Does my voice croak?"
"Are my knees trembling?"
"Are you SURE people will be there?"
and,
"Do I look nervous?"
Teresa had to laugh at that one. "What do you think?"
Serena sat down next to Teresa on the couch, careful not to crease her
dress. "Oh, Tori..."
Teresa patted her back, and smiled. "Happy birthday, Buns."
A faint smile flashed across her face. "Thanks, Tori. But that still
didn't
get my fear away."
"Actually, it's more like horror."
"HA. But, Tori... I don't even know the program!"
"Relax. You'll just be taking requests from fans, and sing them. It
doesn't
matter what you wear. You don't even have to change your clothes. All you
have
to know is that you'll be in for a surprise."
"WHAT? A SURPRISE?!?"
Right there and then, someone informed them that the program was starting
in five minutes. They went out, and Serena positioned behind the curtains.
Teresa was checking for last-minute changes. Fortunately, there were none.
Teresa squeezed Serena's hand. "Good luck, Buns. And happy birthday
again."
Before Serena could reply, her cousin was gone, and the curtains opened.
Fans screamed as the spotlight focused on the lone figure onstage. She
smiled.
Her fear was gone. All she knew then was the song she felt in her heart, and
nothing more.
She was singing "In My Life", a classic duet by Paul McCartney and John
Lennon... But it was not them who were singing now, but Serena Tsukino, in
the
person of Bunny Thompson.
There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some for better, not for better
Some have gone, and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one that compares to you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something you...
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more
In my life
I love you more...
Among the crowd, three people were not joining the roaring and yelling.
They stood there, not mesmerized by the beauty of her voice, or her face, or
the meaning of the song itself. They had a job to do.
Two of them were partners. One was female, with her hair green and long,
in
a ponytail tucked under a cap. She wore a spaghetti-strapped white shirt,
short denim shorts, and a pair of basketball shoes, with socks, of course.
The other was a tall man, with his head covered in a bandanna and
sunglasses, wearing a black leather jacket and torn jeans, with high-cut
boots.
The third did not belong with the other two. He was a short man, most
unnoticed in his height. He had a plain white shirt, faded pants, and rubber
shoes. He looked about eleven years old among the teens.
They stood out like cats among the pigeons. One of them was needed for
mainly support, another for a matter of life and death, and another of
revenge.
They neither howled nor laughed. They just watched.
And the song was finished.
The crowd was silent.
They don't like me anymore, Serena thought bitterly. Is it my dress, or
my
voice? Or is it just me?
More silence.
Tori! It's all Tori's fault. She shouldn't have made me do this stupid
concert. I KNEW nobody would appreciate this. They must think I'm a complete
conceited jerk now.
Silence still...
And then she remembered. I'm supposed to take requests!
She was about to explain it when the crowd began howling again. Neither
Serena nor Bunny was ever THIS tense in her life. She thought, What's going
on?
A new song was being played, and she knew what it was almost instantly.
It
was "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago. Their song. (Guess whose it is.)
On impulse, she turned around. And there she saw...
Seiya Kou. Walking towards her. And he began singing.
You know our love was meant to be
Kind of love to last forever
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know
Everywhere I go
Always on my mind
In my heart
In my soul, baby
Chorus: You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring meaning to my life
You're the inspiration
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you near me, say it
No one needs you more than I need you
Serena was stunned. He was coming closer, closer... And there he was,
beside her, putting his arms around her... And there was nothing more Serena
can do but sing with him.
And I know (And I know)
Yes I know that this has been the seed (the seed...)
So in love when we're together
Now I know (Now I know)
That I'll need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know (Yes, I need to know)
Always on my mind
In my heart
In my soul
Chorus: You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring meaning to my life
You're the inspiration
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you near me, say it
No one needs you more than I need you
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you near me, say it
No one needs you more than I need you (No one needs you more)
When you love somebody, till the end of time...
When you love somebody, always on my mind...
No one needs you more than I
Chorus: You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration
You bring meaning to my life
You're the inspiration
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you near me, say it
No one needs you more than I need you
One of the three spoke up. "It's time."
As the song faded into nothingness, Seiya wrapped an arm around Serena's
waist, and whispered, "Happy birthday, Serena."
Serena smiled widely, and looked at Seiya with wide eyes. "What the heck
are you doing here?"
Seiya smiled at her. "What do you think?"
The crowd was long forgotten, and there was nothing but Serena and Seiya.
Serena was thinking, There's something in him I have never seen before...
And Seiya thought, She never looked as beautiful...
A new song started up, and Serena once more sang, Seiya left the stage.
There were lots more that Serena sang, requests from her fans, and most were
her personal favorites. But then, one song turned up that had her taken
aback.
Memories flashed through her mind and a pain flared in her chest. But there
was nothing she could do but sing it. Yet as soon as the song began, she
forgot about that request and everything else, and only the meaning of the
song remained. It was so true, so realistic, that she regretted she ever
entertained the thought of not singing it.
It was "Don't Say You Love Me" by the Corrs.
I've seen this place a thousand times
I've felt this all before
And every time you call
I've waited there
As though you might not call at all
I know this face I'm wearing now
I've seen this face in my house
And though it feels so grave
I'm still of faith
That you're believing every time
We've done this once and then you closed the door
Don't make me fall again for nothing more
Don't say you love me unless forever
Don't tell me you need me if you're not gonna stay
Don't give me this feeling, I'll only believe it
Make it real
Or take it all away
In the middle of the song, a new tune turned up, and another voice came
on.
At first, Serena thought it was another of the Three Lights. However, she
was
in for a big surprise...
Standing by my window...
That voice sounds familiar, Serena thought.
Listening for your call
Can't be Seiya again...
Seems I really miss you after all
Yaten? Nah.
Time won't let me keep these sad thoughts to myself
Taiki? No, no, no, NO!
I just like to let you know
Serena turned around and saw...
I wish I never let you go
Serena gasped. "Darien?"
Yeah. Darien Chiba. Singing. In a concert. Of Bunny Thompson. (Huh?)
And I'll always love you
"Oh, God..." Serena moaned.
Deep inside this heart of mine
Tears began to form in her eyes.
I do
Then they trickle down her cheeks.
Love you
Darien's coming closer, closer...
And I'll always need you
Fans and other media people began whispering. Y'know, something like...
"Who is this guy?"
Or, "Major babe!"
"Click!"
And if you ever change your mind I still
Darien's beside Serena! Haha!
I will
Darien grabbed one of Serena's trembling hands and kissed the back of it.
Love you
They look at each other long, sweet...
"Darien," Serena whispered.
The song, once again, was left hanging, but the music plays on and on...
Serena knows the song by heart, and she is deeply touched by the sincerity
of
the words that Darien has chosen.
The song was continued by one of Serena's male back-ups, known as Rextie
H-
B Dustin. His voice was deep, and he sang the song as he knew it. It was
beautiful.
Wish you never left me
But love's a mystery
You can break a heart so easily
The days and nights reveal
How much I feel for you
Time has come for me to see
How much your love has meant to me
And I'll always love you
And if you ever change your mind
I'd still
I will
Love you
Then Darien sang once again, never taking his eyes away from Serena's.
Time like a river keeps on going like our lives
Nothing's left for me to do
So I watch the river rise
And I'll always love you
Deep inside this heart of mine I do love you
And I'll always need you
And if you ever change your mind
I still, I will
I still, I will
Love you
Before the song even began to fade, Darien knelt and said with the mike
near his mouth, "Serena. You are my light and my life. You give me a purpose
to go on. You gave me hope. It was all just a mistake, how you and I got
separated."
"Darien..." It was all she could say.
"Serena, I'm sorry. I give to you my heart, whole and alive. I love you,
Serena. A thousand times, I love you. If there is one thing in the world I
would be afraid to lose, it would be you. I love you. Please, forgive me."
The crowd was suddenly quiet, and tension began to build up in her chest.
Say yes, say yes, her mind screamed.
Silence...
The crowd was going crazy. "Say it, say it," they chanted.
And Serena was silent still.
"Come on," Teresa prayed silently behind the curtains.
Serena's lips trembled. "Darien, I forgive you."
The crowd cheered, howled, screamed, hooted...
"I tried to understand, but I failed. It was my mistake, too, to ever
think
of leaving you behind. But looking back all that happened, everything that
we've been through now, there is nothing I regret. And that is because of
this
moment. I love you."
And Serena collapsed into hysterical sobs.
In the whole place, there was one person who is not touched by the scene
that just took place, one person was fuming. The other was chuckling of
victory...
"Now."
Suddenly, the lights were blinking. People looked up to see the ceiling
shaking, and the lights threatening to fall. Chunks of wood began dropping
at
different areas of the coliseum, and the crowd was going hysterical. People
were panicking and dashing to the fire exits.
"Oh no!"
"Bless me, oh Lord."
"Let's get out of here!"
"Get out of my way."
"Hey, you jerk! Watch where you're going!"
"AAAHhhhhhhhhh!!!"
The crowd was going crazy. Serena was stuck in her place, taken by
absolute
shock. Darien shouted through the noise, "Serena, let's get out of here!"
Serena was immobilized by her shock and the thoughts running through her
head... "I can't die now... I have to take care of many things. My money,
Tori, Reenie... I have to take care of them. I can't leave them now. And
Darien..."
"Serena, look out!"
She looked up and saw the big piece of wood falling, heading for her...
"SERENA!"
She was unconscious.
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So, now you know. I decided to stick to my original plot of this
story.
Therefore, you'll keep coming back to my section. Now, isn't that fun?
(Hehe.)
Besides, it keeps mail running, doesn't it? Have I told you that I just love
receiving mail? Well, now you know. So, get my inbox filling in with mail!
You
guys know the address, right? Well, if you don't, it's
lucky.violet@mailcity.com, okay?
Oh, another thing. I've got two mailboxes, right? One in Hotmail,
and
another in Mailcity. I'd just like you to know that I'd rather get mail in
Mailcity. Though I'd still be checking my Hotmail, it would be for misplaced
messages, okay?
Anyway, I gotta go.
Bye!
PS:
Wanna know the three persons in there?
Seek and email me and you shall find.
Hehe:ފ